Register



Dec 27, 1949 P. H. ALLEN ET AL REGISTER 3 She'ets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 11., 1946 .INVENTORJ 1949 P. H. ALLEN ET AL 9 REGISTER Filed Jan. 11, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 U4 E 1 2,34 5 Q *3; 0 37 Q 13 INVENTORJ F76.5 7X 4% 5 am g4 l atented Dec. 27,, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REGISTER Philip H. Allen, Orinda, Calif., and Benjamin J. Chromy, Washington, D. 0.

17 Claims.

This invention relates to registers of the type having a shiftable carriage, for example, to calculating machines having shiftable register carriages and to accounting machines having shiftable paper carriages.

In both of these types of registers it is desirable to effect automatic positioning of the car- .nism by the use of optical-electrical means in conjunction with the usual carriage shifting means and the usual form of key control therefor.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the invention to provide improved tabulating means for the carriage of a register.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple optical-electrical control for the shifting of carriages of registers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simplified shift control for the carriages of registers.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple optical-electrical control system for the shiftable carriage of a calculating machine.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of certain preferred embodiments thereof, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a calculating machine embodying the instant invention with certain parts broken away and others omitted for clarity of illustration.

Figure 2 is a detail sectional View of a part of the tabulating control mechanism.

Figure 3 is a schematic plan view of one form of optical-electrical control means in a tabulating control mechanism.

' Figure 4 is a schematic elevational view of the series of optical elements shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an elevational view, partially broken away, of the tabulator control keys and associated mechanism.

Figure 6 is a schematic plan view of a modified arrangement of the tabulating control mechanism.

the optical system shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is an elevational View, partially in section, of the tabulator control keys shown in Figure 6.

Referring first to Figure 1, there is illustrated a conventional type of calculating machine of the character shown in the United States Letters Patent to Avery et al., 2,01%,013, issued September 10, 1935, to which reference is made for the disclosure of the elements of a calculating machine not disclosed herein. In general, this type of machine includes a base 10 and a housing II which support and enclose the various operative parts of the calculating machine including the usual selecting mechanism, actuating mechanism and registers. The calculating machine includes a transversely shiftable register carriage l2 which can be shifted in either direction with respect to the frame of the machine by means including a pair of similar shift clutches I3, only one of which is seen in Figure 1, which are arranged in sideby-side relation and have respective clutch control levers l4 and Ma provided with manual operating keys I5.

As previously stated, the present invention is concerned with the provision of tabulating control mechanism for selectively shifting the carriage to a desired ordinal position in accordance with the depression of a corresponding tabulating control key, these keys being of the general character illustrated in the patent to Webb, 2,216,636, issued October 1, 1940, which are positioned at the front of the machine in alignment with the respective ordinal rows of value keys.

Referring to Figures 3 to 5, inclusive, the ordinal tabulator keys are shown at 2| through 29, respectively, being mounted for vertical sliding movement on rods 30 extending between supporting plates 3| and 32 and being spring urged upwardly by the springs 33. The usual form of latching slide 34 is associated with this row of keys.

In the present instance the tabulator keys are used as shutters to control the establishment of light rays corresponding to the respective ordinal positions of the carriage and for this purpose each key is provided with an aperture 36 for cooperation with corresponding aligned apertures 31 and 38 in respective plates 3| and 32 in the depressed position of the key. A suitable source of light, such as a neon or fluorescent light 39 is mounted in front of the plate 3| in alignment with the respective series of apertures 31 and 38 which provide for collimation of the light from the tube 39 into a beam or ray, as illustrated schematically in Figure 3.

Associated with the tabulating keys is a series of optical elements, each corresponding to one ordinal position of the carriage, these elements being shown in the form of a series of mirrors 4| through 49 in Figures 3 and 4. As each of these mirrors is similar and similarly mounted, only one of them will be described. Referring to Figure 2, the mirror MI is carried in a mounting I42 on a pivoted post I43. The post I43 is pivotally mounted in a bearing I44 supported in a bar I45 on a frame post I46 of the machine. The post I43 has a control arm I41 which is spring urged counter-clockwise, as viewed in Figure 3, by means of a torsion spring I48, so that a roller I49 carried by the arm I41 is urged into engagement with a control cam slide 5| therefor. The control slide 5| is positioned in accordance with the carriage position and for this purpose may be carried by supports 52 from the carriage l2. This arrangement may be altered where the desired ordinal movement of the cam slide 5| is less or greater than a step of movement of the carriage by employing a suitable gear and rack mechanism between the carriage l2 and the slide 5|. In any event, the position of the control slide 5| is controlled to correspond to and represent the position of the carriage. The slide 5| is provided with a low portion 53, an intermediate portion 54 and a high portion 55 for engagement by the arms I41 and for thereby controlling the angularly adjusted positions of the mirrors 4| through 49.

Associated with the series of mirrors 4| through 49 (Figures 3 to 5) are a pair of light sensitive devices 56 and 51 having respective shields 58 and 59 associated therewith, the light sensitive means being so positioned with respect to the mirrors 4| through 49 that mirrors adjusted under control of the low portion 53 of the slide 5| will reflect the light rays from the tabulator keys onto the light sensitive device 56. The mirror under control of the intermediate portion 54 f the slide has its angular adjusted position so that the light ray therefrom is reflected between the light sensitive devices 56 and 51 so as to impinge on neither one, this position corresponding to the present position of the carriage. Those mirrors having their angular position controlled by the high portion 55 of the slide 5| are so adjusted as to reflect the light beams onto the light sensitive device 51. In this way the register carriage provides a control of the optical system and cooperates with it and the control keys to provide an indication of the present position of the carriage and of a desired position thereof.

The light sensitive devices 56 and 51 may be of any desired type, such as resistance type selenium cells, phototubes of the electron-emissive cathode type or photovoltaic cells. Where the photovoltaic cell type is employed, the output thereof may be coupled directly to the associated solenoid. In any event, it is desirable to provide an amplifier I55 of either the vacuum tube or gas tube type. If desired, the light may be made to impinge directly upon a gas tube which would function as both a light-sensitive device and as an amplifier. In the schematic illustration shown in Figure 3 the light sensitive devices are shown respectively associated with solenoids. 6| and 62, so that these solenoids will be energized when the light sensitive devices become energized or conducting as the case may be. The respective solenoids 6| and 62 operate corresponding shift controls to effect shifting of the carriage in the direction corresponding to the energized solenoid and this shifting will continue as long as the light sensitive device is energized, that is, until the corresponding mirror has its arm 41 engaged by the intermediate portion 54 of slide 5| and the light deflected away from the light sensitive device.

Referring to Figure 1, the solenoid 6| is shown with its armature 63 connected to the springurged shift clutch control lever M which causes shifting of the carriage to the right, as viewed from the front of the machine, and correspondingly the solenoid 62 would be similarly connected to the shift clutch control lever |4a for controlling the shift clutch causing shifting of the carriage to the left. The two solenoids may be disposed side by side in view of their ovate cross section, the section shown in Figure 1 of the solenoid 6| being taken along its major dimension.

To review briefly the operation of the abovedescribed tabulating mechanism, when it is desired to position the carriage in a selected ordinal position, the corresponding control key of the keys 2| through 29 is depressed to align its aperture 36 with the associated apertures 31 and 38 and establish a light beam to the corresponding mirror of the mirrors 4| through 49. If the carriage is in the position corresponding to the depressed key, the light ray is reflected between the respective light sensitive devices 56 and 51, so that no operation occurs.

If the carriage is to the left of the desired ordinal position, the mirror corresponding to the depressed tabulator key will be adjusted under control of the low portion 53 of the slide 5|, so that the light ray will impinge upon the light sensitive device 56 to energize the relay 6| and engage the clutch for shifting the carriage to the right, as viewed from the front of the machine, and this shifting will continue until the intermediate portion 54 of the slide 5| engages the arm 41 of the mirror corresponding to the desired ordinal position of the carriage when the relay 5| will be de-energized and the clutch I 3 will be disengaged at the end of the step of movement during which time the carriage is being moved into the desired ordinal position. Correspondingly, if the carriage is to the right of the desired ordinal position thereof, the mirror corresponding to the depressed tabulator key will be adjusted under control of the high portion 55 of the slide 5 I, so that the light ray enabled by the depressed key will impinge upon the light sensitive device 51 and causing shifting of the carriage to the left until the aforesaid mirror is adjusted to its neutral intermediate position.

Figures 6 through 8 inclusive illustrate a modified form of the invention for controlling the tabulated position of the carriage wherein stationary mirrors are employed associated with a movable shutter system under control of the shiftable carriage of the register.

In this modification two vertically offset series of mirrors, 1| through 19 respectively, and 8| through 89 respectively, are mounted by respective brackets and on the machine frame, the mirrors being so disposed to reflect rays of light to the light sensitive cells, 56 and 51, respectively, which are similarly vertically offset to receive the light from the respective series of mirrors. Light rays are enabled or transmitted under control of the carriage l2 and the tabulator keys Zia through 29a, respectively. In the present instance keys 2| a through 29a, respectively, have a pair of vertically displaced apertures 36a for cooperation in the depressed position of the keys with respective pairs of apertures 3la.and 38a. aligned therewith in the depressed position shiftable register carriage I2 is provided with a depending finger 9| forming part of a shutter mechanism including a leftward extension 92 for the upper roW of mirrors 'H through 19, and a rightward extension 93 for the lower row of mirrors 8| through 89, respectively. The vertical shutter portion 9| is so related as to intercept light beams from the tabulator key associated with the position of the carriage at any given instant, while the shutter 92 will intercept light beams from the upper series of apertures to the left of this position, and the shutter 93 will intercept light beams from the lower series of apertures to the right of this position.

In this way, when a key to the left of the position of the carriage is depressed only the lower light ray ofa pair can become active, as the upper light ray is intercepted by the shutter 92. As a result, the lower light sensitive cell 51 is energized to operate the solenoid 62 and initiate shifting of the carriage to the left until shutter portion 9| intercepts the active light ray. Correspondingly, if the desired position of the carriage is to the right of its actual position only the upper light ray from a selected key will be active with respect to its associated mirror to enable the light sensitive cell 56 and operate its associated relay BI and cause shifting of the carriage to the right until the central shutter portion 9| again intercepts the active light rays.

While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, the invention is capable of further variation and modification within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. In a business machine having a shiftable carriage, means for shifting the carriage, optical means for providing an indication of a desired position of the carriage, means for causing operation of said shifting means in response to said optical indication to position said carriage in said desired position, and means controlled by said carriage for interrupting operation of said shifting means.

2. In a business machine having a shiftable carriage, means for shifting the carriage, optical means for providing an indication of a desired position of the carriage, and carriage controlled means cooperating with said optical means to control said shifting means.

3. In a register having a shiftable carriage and means for shifting the carriage in either direction, tabulating mechanism including respective light sensitive devices respectively associated with said shifting means to control shifting in the respective directions, and means including carriage controlled light rays for selectively energizing said devices.

4. In a register having a shiftable carriage and means for shifting the carriage in either direction, tabulating mechanism including respective light sensitive devices respectively associated with said shifting means to control shifting in the respective directions, and carriage controlled optical means for selectively energizing said devices.

5. In a register having a shiftable carriage and means for shifting the carriage in either direction, tabulating mechanism including optical means for controlling the direction and extent of shifting of said carriage by said shifting means, and means controlled by said carriage for conditioning said optical means.

6. In a register having a shiftable carriage and means for shifting the carriage in either direction, tabulating mechanism including tabulator keys and optical means for controlling the direction and extent of shifting of said carriage by said shifting means, and means controlled by said carriage for conditioning said optical means.

7. In a machine of the class described having a shiftable carriage and means for shifting the carriage, tabulating mechanism including means for establishing a light ray to control operation of said shifting means, and means controlled by said carriage for rendering said light ray ineflective.

8. In a machine of the class described having a shiftable carriage and means for shifting the carriage, tabulating mechanism including means for establishing a light ray to control operation of said shifting means, and a shutter on said carriage for intercepting said light ray.

9. In a machine of the class described having a shiftable carriage and means for shifting the carriage, tabulating mechanism including means for establishing a light ray to control operation of said shifting means, and means controlled by said carriage for varying the path of said light ray.

10. In a register having a shiftable carriage and means for shifting the carriage in either direction, tabulating mechanism including ordinally arranged optical means for controlling the direction and extent of shifting of said carriage by said shifting means, and means controlled by said carriage for rendering said optical means effective and ineffective.

11. In a register having a shiftable carriage and means for shifting the carriage in either direction, tabulating mechanism including light responsive means for controlling said shifting means, a set of tabulating keys, each key corresponding to a given carriage position, and optical means associated with said keys and controlled by said carriage for operating said light responsive means.

12. In a register having a shiftable carriage and means for shifting the carriage in either direction, tabulating mechanism including light responsive means for controlling said shifting means, a set of tabulating keys, each key corresponding to a given carriage position, means for establishing a light ray upon operation of a key, and optical means controlled by said carriage for effecting selective impingement of a light ray on said light responsive means.

13. In a register having a shiftable carriage and means for shifting the carriage in either direction, tabulating mechanism including light responsive means for controlling said shifting means, a series of optical elements, each element corresponding to an ordinal position of said carriage, and means controlled by said carriage for rendering ineffective the optical element corresponding to the position of the carriage and for controlling the optical elements to the right of i said one optical element to cause shifting of the carriage to the right and to control the optical elements to the left of said one optical element to cause shifting of the carriage to the left.

14. In a register having a shiftable carriage and means for shifting the carriage, tabulating mechanism including light responsive means for 21 feontmliing :said shifting :means, a series of 'optical elements, each element corresponding to I an ordinal position of said carriage, and means controlled 'by saidcarriage 'for Tendering ineffective the optical element corresponding to the position of the carriage.

15. In a machinemf the'class described having iaish-iftable carriage and means for shifting the --carriage, tabulatin'g control mechanism including: an optical'el'ement corresponding to a selected posltiton of said carriage, i and means controlled by -saidcarriage for rendering'inefiectivethe optical element when thevcarriage is insaid selected position.

16. In a register having a shiftable carriage 'and means =for shifting the carriage in either directiomtabulating'mechanism including light responsive means for controlling said shifting means, a seriesof optical elements, each element correspondingto an ordinal position of said carrlage, means controlled'by said carriage for renderingiineflective the optical element corresponding towtherposition-of the carriage and -for'contro1- lingthe'optical-elements tothe'rig'ht of said one opticalzelement to cause shifting of the-carriage to the right and to control the optical elements to the left of saidone optical element to cause shiftlngof the carriage to the left, a source of light, anda series of =keys-corresponding to the ordinal positions of the a carriage and associated respectively-with said opticalelements for'selectively transmitting light rays thereto.

17. In a register having a shiftable carriage and means for shifting the carriage in either direction, parallel-series of optical'elements and respective tabulating mechanism comprising light responsive means associated with said series,

(means including 'a-souroe of light :and a'series iof atabulator keys forselectlvely projecting "light rays 'to a corresponding pair of said optical elements, and a shutter movable under controlof said carriage in accordance with theordinalpost ition'thereof having'a portion to intercept light rays to the-optical elements of said respective series corresponding to the ordinal position of the carriage and to intercept light rays to the letter saidposition for one series of said elements and to .the right of said vposition for the other series of said elements.

PHILIP H. BENJAMIN J. CHROMY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 'file of this patent:

UNITED .sTATEs PATENTS 

